Vipassana

I recently attended a ten-day meditation course called Vipassana. In short, I have been inspired to spread word of this wonderful technique.

Vipassana was discovered by Gautama the Buddha as a method to eradicate all suffering by eliminating the two things that lead to suffering: craving and aversion.

When we crave something and it is not provided, inner peace is disturbed.
When we develop aversion towards something and it appears, inner peace is disturbed.

Vipassana works to maintain inner peace despite our external environment. It is radically simple, and only requires effort on the part of the meditator in order to reap benefit.

The technique begins by practicing annapana sati meditation (focus is directed on observing the natural breath, with no attempt to alter it) for the first three days. Focus is directed on the triangle consisting of the nostrils of the nose to the upper lip. It is in this stage where you learn how to become aware of sensation.

On day four, Vipassana is taught. You are instructed to sit for one hour (three times a day) and scan the body from head to toe, aware of any sensation felt. You become highly aware of any sensation - pain in knees from sitting, back aches, itches, heat, cold, blood flow... the list goes on and on. And the key is when you experience these sensations, you do not respond. You acknowledge the sensation, and come to terms with its emphermality - that its existence is temporary and the pain or unpleasant sensation will soon pass.

Over time, the practice of Vipassana becomes integrated into your life and you are more prepared to handle the oscillations of living.

The organization's main website can be found here ! You can locate the center nearest to you and sign up for a course if my writing has helped nudge you closer.



I arrived in Jesup, Ga excitedly, heeding no caution to the muddy road between me and my meditation center. The splashes of dirt splattered along the body of my car are testament to my eagerness to arrive, turn off my cell phone, take my vow of noble silence, and dive into meditation.

The course was challenging, and up until day eight the thought of leaving would come up sporadically, but knowing the reward on the other side reassured me to stay.

On day six, a day filled with a large amount of desire to depart, I was visited by a white koi fish as I was taking my morning tea. He assured me that I was exactly where I needed to be.

On day seven, I rescued a catfish that had almost been lunch for a hovering bird. I h him gently, and eased him into the water into which he gratefully swam.

On day ten, after clearing my mind of all outside stimulus apart from the technique, I realized that we exist as neutral beings. Our minds, emotions and disposition toward the world are radically altered by the stimulus we put into our bodies. But further, how we choose to respond to that stimulus.

Our noble silence ended on day ten, and laughter erupted around the center. Smiles were plastered on everyone's faces, and the air was field with an electric current of joy. It is only temporary, and we must learn that the highs are also ephemeral. (But oh boy, was it a happy time!)